(CNN) - For the first time in what seems like ages, Congress is poised to give final approval to a government spending plan without resorting to last-minute brinksmanship such as midnight negotiations to prevent an imminent government shutdown.

The Senate is expected to pass the compromise federal budget framework Wednesday and send it to President Barack Obama, who has signaled his support.

soundoff(22 Responses)

Babyboomer

Well maybe the fact that the last Gov. shutdown cost us over 24 billion dollars matters. Or, that Harry Reid getting rid of the "Forever Filibuster" rule matters. Or, that the GOP is hoping we (The American People) have time to forget about what has happened over the past 5 years (Can you say obstruction...) in time for the 2014 and 2016 elections. Maybe those are some of the reasons for this new sense of cooperation... Hmmm...

December 18, 2013 11:08 am at 11:08 am |

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA -aka- Take Back The House -aka- No Redemption Votes

I guess we should be happy that Congress is actually doing their job. Not!!!

December 18, 2013 11:16 am at 11:16 am |

Thomas

shutdown cost us over 24 billion dollars matters.

Ted Cruz lined his pockets while reading his children Green Eggs and Ham on CSPAN at the tax payers expense .

December 18, 2013 11:20 am at 11:20 am |

Silence DoGood

The GOP forced, kicking and screaming into negotiating, is not a pretty sight. With the short memory of the average voters, they will be hoping to have everyone believe they've been doing it all along.

December 18, 2013 11:26 am at 11:26 am |

California

Why are democrats insisting Veterans benefits are to be cut?

December 18, 2013 11:26 am at 11:26 am |

Tony

We used to do this all the time, until Republicans decided that they would shut down the government in order to force the president to cut spending that Congress had already approved, which actually would be unconstitutional. The president must spend the money that Congress tells him to spend. Congress writes the actual budget, which determines the actual spending.

December 18, 2013 11:33 am at 11:33 am |

Al-NY,NY

the Trolls are watching with pen and paper to make sure any "unpure" members that support this will be primaried. Thinking and freewill is not allowed in the pure party. Obediance and compliance are acceptable. Dissent and straying from the party line is not

December 18, 2013 11:34 am at 11:34 am |

Sniffit

"No-drama budget vote: How can this be?"

The GOP/Teatrolls threw their tantrum, shut down the gov't, watched the majority of the public blame them for it, watched their poll numbers suffer horribly for it and there's a mid-term coming in 2014, so they needed to pretend to be reasonable for once and try to avoid, diffuse and give the idiot American public enough time to completely forget the government shutdown damage they caused. That's "how this can be."

December 18, 2013 11:35 am at 11:35 am |

Randy, San Francisco

No drama is a good thing. No drama means compromise and not getting everything on your wish list. No drama is the grown-up responsible way to conduct government...something Tea Party politicians should learn to do with grace and civility.

December 18, 2013 11:40 am at 11:40 am |

Boomer in Mo

No drama because some members of Congress have out-grown the angry toddler phase.

December 18, 2013 12:03 pm at 12:03 pm |

Rudy NYC

It is what it is. We have a two year budget deal. I don't understand how that's constitutional, because the time frame crosses into the next Congress, but that's another topic of discussion. So, we have a budget deal.

A two year budget deal means that both sides have come together and agreed on spending levels for the next two years. Right? So, what does it mean when Republicans are already scheming to "get what we want" out of the debt ceiling? It means that they're showing their true stripes. They've planned to renege on the budget deal all along.

As far as the teaklans are concerned this is all about 2014 and the elections.
Not everyone came out the winner though. Rich get richer and the muddled class, poor , seniors and veterans get royally ______ed yet again.
Next up, social security and more Medicare cuts.

December 18, 2013 01:14 pm at 1:14 pm |

Rick McDaniel

The GOP caved in to the runaway spending........again.

December 18, 2013 01:20 pm at 1:20 pm |

Sniffit

Unfortunate lesson for the next Dem POTUS: just let The GOPers/Teatrolls throw their "we're going to destroy you" tantrum and let them cause their shutdown the first time they threaten it, so they can get it out of the way, get it out of their system and ultimately learn their lesson from the polling that shows their attempts to avoid and shift blame for it didn't work, at which point they'll change their tune in hopes of enlisting the MSM's help in whitewashing it all in preparation for the mid-terms.

December 18, 2013 01:30 pm at 1:30 pm |

Rudy NYC

California

Why are democrats insisting Veterans benefits are to be cut?
----------------------------
I think it might have something to do with that Republican requirement that all spending increases must be offset by spending cuts. They reduced some of the Sequester cuts that were about to hit the military, which according to the Republicans means that you must cut spending elsewhere in the budget. Republicans found something to cut, but the Democrats didn't like it.

December 18, 2013 01:35 pm at 1:35 pm |

rob

@I'll bet
How will they feel when all those Democrats in Congress vote for it and President Obama signs it into law ?????

December 18, 2013 01:36 pm at 1:36 pm |

Marie MD

@california, democrats?
Your teaklans are the ones who are cutting back benefits to veterans. Let me remind you that they only care about a child when it intrudes on its mother's personal decision then they come back 18 yearsto send them to unnecessary lies of a war.
Too much faux news?

December 18, 2013 01:53 pm at 1:53 pm |

Woman In California

The GOP caved in to the runaway spending........again.

Runaway spending which came primarily from their party of wealthy welfare rollers and the tax cuts they benefited from.

December 18, 2013 02:17 pm at 2:17 pm |

Jeff Brown in Jersey

How can this be? The GOP got the cuts to the poor and middle class they wanted without cutting anything to the wealthy. The Democrats folded like a cheap tent, once again.